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Excellent

#161 of 1,036 schools in AR

Top 15% in state

Mena Middle School

Middle School · MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

320 R MENA ST, Mena, AR 71953

Enrollment

365

Student-Teacher

13:1

Score

8.0

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Arkansas schools

#161 of 1,036

In Mena

#1 of 6

public schools

In district

#1 of 4

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Academic performance

8.4 / 10

Excellent

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Mena Middle School

8.0/10

Middle School in Mena · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Holly Harshman Elem. School

5.4/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Mena High School

6.7/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Mena Middle School

Mena Middle School is a public middle school in Mena, AR, part of MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT. Mena Middle School serves approximately 365 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. Mena Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #161 of 1,036 schools in AR.

Structured state assessment records for Mena Middle School show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.1 pts above AR schools
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • AR avg 6.9

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.43 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.4Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency54.9% (2025 ATLAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32.4% (2025 ATLAS)
Math vs. State Avg+15 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.1 pts
Overall Proficiency44% (2025 ATLAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2025 ATLAS)
vs. Expected+8.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile75th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,089
Chronic Absenteeism29.3%

Mena Middle School — Students at Mena Middle School score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores AR ATLAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
40.0% (2025 ATLAS)
ELA Proficiency 54.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
33.9% (2025 ATLAS)

Based on 37 test records from AR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
78%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
79%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
76%
ELA
72%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
71%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
33%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
60%
ELA
65%
2017
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
47%
ELA
41%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
41%
2022
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2025
Math
54.9%
ELA
32.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How Mena Middle School Compares

See how Mena Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.0/10
85th percentile in AR
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
7.1/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
65%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
29.3%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

320 R MENA ST, Mena, AR 71953

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mena Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. WALDRON MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 6.1/10, 23.1 miles away, in nearby Waldron), a more accessible option. Additionally, SMITHVILLE MS (rated 5.5/10, 25.3 miles away, in nearby Smithville), a more accessible option. For more schools in Mena, see our Mena schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 33.1 mi
School Distance Rating
HOLLY HARSHMAN ELEM. SCHOOL Mena 0.2 mi 5.4
MENA HIGH SCHOOL Mena 0.2 mi 6.7
POLK COUNTY VIRTUAL ACADEMY Mena 0.2 mi
LOUISE DURHAM ELEM. SCHOOL Mena 1.7 mi 5.3
ACORN HIGH SCHOOL Mena 4.0 mi 6.4
ACORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mena 4.1 mi 6.7
COSSATOT RIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL Vandervoort 15.9 mi 6.7
COSSATOT RIVER HIGH SCHOOL Cove 16.6 mi 7.2
COSSATOT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Wickes 20.6 mi 7.6
WALDRON HIGH SCHOOL Waldron 22.9 mi 5.4
WALDRON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Waldron 23.1 mi 5.3
ADVENTURE ONLINE ACADEMY Waldron 23.0 mi 3.2
WALDRON MIDDLE SCHOOL Waldron 23.1 mi 6.1
UMPIRE K-12 SCHOOL Umpire 23.0 mi 9.2
ARKANSAS CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL-MANSFIELD Mansfield 29.8 mi 5.5
SMITHVILLE HS Smithville 25.3 mi 8.1
SMITHVILLE MS Smithville 25.3 mi 5.5
SMITHVILLE ES Smithville 25.4 mi 7.7
ODEN SCHOOLS Oden 25.2 mi 6.8
MANSFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mansfield 33.1 mi 4.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 71953 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$52,355

Median Home Value

$144,200

Median Rent

$743/mo

Population

13,412

College Educated

19.5%

Homeownership

84.8%

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Median Age

47.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
DOVER MIDDLE SCHOOL Dover, AR 8.0
HARMONY GROVE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Benton, AR 8.0
MANSFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL Mansfield, AR 8.0
NASHVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Nashville, AR 8.0
RUSSELLVILLE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL Russellville, AR 8.0
SOUTHSIDE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Batesville, AR 8.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mena Middle School

What grades does Mena Middle School serve?

Mena Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Mena Middle School?

Mena Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 365 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mena Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Mena Middle School is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Mena Middle School rank in AR?

Mena Middle School ranks #161 of 1,036 schools in AR.

What is Mena Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Mena Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Mena Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mena Middle School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Mena Middle School a charter school?

No, Mena Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Mena Middle School a Title I school?

No, Mena Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mena Middle School?

64.7% of students at Mena Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
34 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
365
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
29.3%

District

MENA SCHOOL DISTRICT
District Enrollment
1,697
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,089
District Rank
#1 of 4

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